Saxophone Auditions for Admission

Please note a screening (preliminary audition video) is required for all applicants. The screening will be submitted directly through the Acceptd application.

For each song, all applicants are required to play the entire melody once, then improvise for four choruses only. The melody should only be played at the beginning of each selection, not after solos.

Pre-screening content per level:

  • Undergraduate:
    • Lady Bird (Dameron), Medium Swing 170 bpm
    • Caravan (Ellington/ Tizol), Medium Latin 90 bpm at the half-note (For "Caravan", solos can be 2 choruses only).
  • Graduate:
    • Dolphin Dance (Hancock), Medium Swing 120 bpm
    • Con Alma (Gillespie), Medium Latin 110 bpm

Undergraduate live and final video auditions

Students performing live or video jazz saxophone auditions at The North Texas College of Music are expected to furnish their own play-along CD’s or smart phones, sheet music and Omnibooks.
The improvisational part of the audition should include a performance of three jazz standards of various tempos and styles. One requirement of these three jazz standards will be “There Will Never Be Another You” (Warren/Gordon). The remaining two are your choice. Students are also required to read one unaccompanied transcription from the Charlie Parker Omnibook. This should include both the melody and solo. Eb saxophonists should use the Eb Omnibook and Bb saxophonists should use the Bb Omnibook. Bb saxophonists should change octaves for all notes that are out of your natural range.

Please note: All undergraduates must also play a classical audition. The repertoire requirements for the classical audition are published here on the College of Music web site. For questions about classical audition repertoire, please contact Dr. Eric Nestler.

Graduate live and video auditions
Graduate students are required to perform an improvised solo on Charlie Parker's "Confirmation," and two additional selections you choose to be presented with prerecorded tracks. Styles should be selected from the following; ballad, blues, medium tempo standard, up-tempo standard, bebop, fusion or funk. Students are required to select and perform one selection from the Charlie Parker Omnibook.

Additional notes
Saxophonists who cannot perform a scholarship/entrance audition at the University of North Texas College of Music must follow the directions on the College of Music application to submit a high quality recorded video audition. Live performances and video performances are judged on an equal basis. Scholarship/entrance audition deadlines are published on the College of Music website. Undergraduate jazz saxophone majors are required to study classical and jazz saxophone in private lessons and must have appropriate equipment (mouthpiece and reed setups for each).